Yates withdraws changes for 211 property

Greg Yates of Commercial Yates in Culpeper withdrew his rezoning and special-exception applications in an email sent to Rappahannock County Administrator Debbie Keyser this Thursday afternoon (June 2).

This is the area behind Ginger Hill Antiques where Yates proposed to build up to 250 self-storage units.

Yates’ statement reads: “This is my official request that you withdraw both applications for the site plan and the special exception for my commercial property at 12625 Lee Hwy., Washington, Va.” Mr. Yates could not be reached for further comment, nor could his attorney, Taylor Odom, who is out of town until Monday.

The applications were to remove proffers on the property housing Mountainside Physical Therapy and Ginger Hill Antiques that would allow storage areas inside the building, and to seek a special-exception permit to allow up to 250 self-storage units in the vacant hillside behind the building.

At a public hearing May 25 before the county planning commission, several residents of Clark Lane spoke in opposition to the applications; the commission voted to recommend the proffers request be denied, but chose not to hear the special exception permit case. The Clark Lane and surrounding residents and others who opposed Yates’ plans were expected to show up at the supervisors 7 p.m. meeting Monday (June 6). The supervisors have the final word on both requests.

Last Friday, several of the artists who’ve been given until July 1 to be out of the River District Arts building in Sperryville (whose owners, unable to find a buyer, plan to mothball it) revealed they had been talking to Yates about relocating at least some part of the studio and gallery operation to Yates’ Lee Highway building.

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